WesWorld

The Peruvian Times (Lima), 2 October 1948

The first group of Ancon-class torpedo boats sold to China have been formally handed over in special ceremonies at the Callao naval base. The entire Ancon class, and the Capitan Valdez class destroyers, will be transferred over the coming months. The sale has sparked concerns in foreign circles but on the whole has been met with approval by both the Peruvian naval staff and by government officials. The proceeds of the sale are expected to be used to finance construction of vessels better suited to Peruvian requirements and at the same time lighten the manning burden on the Armada.

El Comercio (Lima), 16 October 1948

The demolition of the destroyers Independencia and Union was completed today at the Servicios Industriales de la Marina yard at Callao; the last of the steel scrap has been removed from the dry docks where the ships were broken up, and the docks will now be prepared to receive the destroyers Confederacion and Republica. The stripping of their hulls as begun, and the armament, machinery, and any other useful equipment will be removed to storage before they are towed into the dry dock for final demolition, which is expected to commence in early December.

Were Confederacion and Republica ever up for sale, btw?

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Were Confederacion and Republica ever up for sale, btw?

No, they were not.

At the time the market looked rather thin and having just managed to sell the Ancons and the Valdezs to China I did not want to push matters too far. So I deliberately chose to scrap them rather than sell them.

El Popular (Lima), 29 October 1948

The corvettes Huancabamba and Zarumila were launched today at the Servicios Industriales de la Marina yard at Callao, and towed to the yard’s fitting-out wharf where work on them will continue; they are expected to be completed early next year. These vessels are intended for oceanic patrols in the waters off our coast, assuring the integrity of our maritime zones.

El Popular (Lima), 4 November 1948

The post-refit trials of the cruiser Amazonas were completed today without serious complication, and the vessel has been declared operational.

The Peruvian Times (Lima), 12 November 1948

The Ministry of Defense announced today that the frigate Prado has successfully completed its operational training and has been selected to make a goodwill cruise to Guayaquil.

Diario Oficial El Peruano (Lima), 16 November 1948

Ceremonies today at the Servicios Industriales de la Marina shipyard in Callao marked the completion of the frigates Cáceres and Olaya, the last of the Galindo-class vessels that are to be built for the Armada. The vessels will undergo trials and operational training over the next several months.

The Peruvian Times (Lima), 28 November 1948

The Peruvian naval shipyard at Callao saw the launch today of the destroyers Bustamante and Ugarte, the latest of the Cano-class vessels. It is anticipated that a further two vessels of this class will be laid down in next year. In other naval developments, the heavy cruiser Almirante Grau has completed her post-refit trials and has returned to duty with the Peruvian Navy. Failure of timely arrival of Chinese crews to man the recently-sold destroyers and torpedo boats have delayed delivery of such ships to their new owners.

Diario Oficial El Peruano (Lima), 1 December 1948

The destroyers Larrea and Deganio completed their operational training phase this week, and will now take their proper place in the order of battle of the Armada.

Iquitos, 8 December 1948

Felix Wankel walked down the steps to the apron where the Aeroperu Douglas DC-3 had finally come to rest; he was followed by the rest of his team of German engineers and Peruvian technicians. They had come to do the preliminary work on the modular dry dock that Wankel has designed. The first of its components was already on its way upriver and was expected to arrive by Christmas.

The tasks ahead of Wankel’s team were many – sink pilings that would anchor the modular components while waiting for their assembly; dredging – if necessary – the location chosen for the dry dock to assure sufficient depth of water; arrange quarters for the workers who would assist in the assembly; every time Wankel drew up his punch list he discovered another item to add to it.

But he loved the challenge of constructing a floating dry dock in the middle of the Amazon jungle, where conventional wisdom held that such a project was ‘impossible’.

Iquitos, 20 December 1948

The Argo Line freighter Auriga eased her way into her berth along the riverside, nudged by an ancient tug and make fast by heavy hawsers. She rode high in the water, for most of her cargo had been dropped off at ports further down river in Brazil; on her homeward voyage she would retrace her steps and take on heavy cargo of timber, latex, coffee, and other forest products before departing for Hamburg.

She brought a variety of goods, consigned to local merchants, to the burgeoning agencies of the Peruvian government intent on developing the frontier, and most importantly to the Peruvian Navy. On her foredeck stood a deck cargo of steel boxes – pontoons – and in her holds baulks of steel, welding equipment, pumps, and a miscellany of ironmongery. These engineer Wankel lavished his attention upon, and he personally oversaw their unloading over the next week. More freighters would have to come, but at least now his team could begin their work proper.

El Popular (Lima), 22 December 1948

The sloop Rio Ucayali and the submarine P-1 were involved a collision during exercises in the Bay of Pisco. Both vessels suffered significant damage, including casualties. A board of inquiry is expected to be called to determine the cause and recommend actions.

The Peruvian Times (Lima), 24 December 1948

Minister of Defense Zenon Noriega Aquero and Minister of Health and Social Services Alberto Hurtado Abadía today issues a joint communique outlining a plan to expand the availability of social and health services to the residents of the interior of the country. Supplementing the work of the Military Rural Settlement Units the Peruvian Navy will now construct a class of riverine craft intended to address the need for medical, educational, and rural development services among the populace concentrated along the rivers of the Amazon basin. Designated Plataforma Itinerante de Acción Social these craft – four of which are featured in next year’s naval program – will feature up-to-date medical facilities, classrooms, and workshops capable of responding to remote settlements that cannot be reached by road or by rail.